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Walk, Hike, Bike and History
May 3, 2023 through November 9, 2023
2024 Information Coming Soon
IDNR's State Historic Sites in Springfield invite you to check out Walk, Hike and Bike History, a brand new way to explore Illinois' capital city in 2023. Walk, Hike and Bike History is a series of inspiring outdoor experiences that connect you to "must-see" museums and monuments in the capital city. Guided by history education interpreters from IDNR's Office of Land Management, Walk, Hike and Bike History experiences range in duration from one to two hours. Reservations, which will be required, can be made on the IDNR website. All experiences will be limited in capacity per current guidelines outlined by the Illinois Department of Public Health. All experiences are free and donations are appreciated.
2023 Walk, Hike and Bike History events will run from May 3 through November 9. The schedule for these events and sign up links can be found below. To view the brochure for our 2023 Walk, Hike, and Bike season, click here.
| Day | Time | Experience | Meeting Location | Make a Reservation | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Wednesday |
10:00 AM |
Military History Hike |
Lincoln Tomb Parking Lot |
MIKITO |
|
|
Wednesday |
10:00 AM |
5-Mile Bike Tour |
Dana-Thomas House Parking Lot (4th & Lawrence) |
TROY |
|
|
Wednesday |
1:00 PM |
8-Mile Bike Tour |
Lincoln Tomb Parking Lot |
TROY |
|
|
Thursday |
9:30 AM |
1908 Race Riot Walking Tour |
Adams Street Plaza |
SUSAN |
|
|
Thursday |
10:00 AM |
Women’s History Walk – 1840-1876 |
Lincoln Home Visitor Center |
JENNIFER |
|
|
Thursday |
2:00 PM |
Black History Walk |
Lincoln Tomb Parking Lot |
MIKITO |
|
|
Friday |
9:30 AM |
Friends of Lincoln Hike |
Lincoln Tomb Parking Lot |
MIKITO |
|
|
Friday |
10:00 AM |
5-Mile Bike Tour |
Dana-Thomas House Parking Lot (4th & Lawrence) |
TROY |
|
|
Friday |
10:00 AM |
Women’s History Walk – 1877-1920 |
Lincoln Home Visitor Center |
JENNIFER |
|
|
Friday |
1:00 PM |
8-Mile Bike Tour |
Lincoln Tomb Parking Lot |
TROY |
|
|
Saturday |
9:30 AM |
1908 Race Riot Walking Tour |
Adams Street Plaza |
SUSAN |
|
|
Sunday |
9:30 AM |
Black History Walk |
Lincoln Tomb Parking Lot |
MIKITO |
Walk, Hike and Bike History Experiences
- 1908 Race Riot Walking Tour - 43 years after Abraham Lincoln’s assassination and just 6 months before his 100th birthday, many of his hometown African American friends and their descendant’s lives were turned upside down by racial hate and economic jealousy during the Springfield 1908 Race Riot. This 60-minute tour will discuss a portion of the devastating 1908 Race Riot that destroyed and affected the lives of many of Abraham Lincoln’s African American friends and their descendants. Comfortable walking shoes and water recommended.
- Women’s History Walk 1840-1876 - Journey through downtown Springfield as we discuss the stories of early Illinois women who worked for the abolition of slavery and to secure civil rights for women and people of color. This one-hour, 1.5-mile walking tour begins at the Lincoln Home Visitor Center and concludes at the Vachel Lindsay Home. Other stops include the Old State Capitol, Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices, and Illinois Governor’s Mansion. Please note we will not be touring the interiors of the sites.
- Women’s History Walk 1876-1920 - Walk the path of suffragists as we discuss the stories of several women who helped make Illinois the first state east of the Mississippi to guarantee presidential suffrage for women, while also advancing other social and civic causes. This one-hour, 1.5 mile walking tour begins at the Lincoln Home Visitor Center and concludes at the Illinois State Capitol. Other stops include the Illinois Governor’s Mansion, Vachel Lindsay Home, and Dana-Thomas House. Please note we will not be touring the interiors of the sites.
- Black History Walk - This 90-minute walk through Oak Ridge Cemetery focuses on the history of Springfield’s African-American community, discussing great tragedies, as well as stories of success in the face of severe adversity and prejudice. Water and good hiking shoes recommended. We collaborate with the Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum to also offer this tour virtually in conjunction with their online programming.
- Five and Eight Mile History Bike Tour - Ride your own bicycle following a guide on a casual and easy-paced bicycle tour of historic sites in the capital city. This neighborhood-style ride will go past historic sites, including the Black Fire House, Dana-Thomas House, Lincoln Home, Old State Capitol, Lincoln Tomb, and others. Information will be provided at nine stops along the route. The eight-mile round trip ride will take about 2 hours. Helmets are required and a water bottle is recommended.
- Military History Hike - This 90-minute hike around Oak Ridge Cemetery will visit the final resting places of numerous veterans. This will include a mixture of both notable figures who served in prominent positions as well as soldiers who are little known today. Comfortable shoes and water recommended
- Friends of Lincoln Hike - This 90-minute hike through the beautiful hills of Oak Ridge Cemetery will pass by the graves of several Abraham Lincoln’s friends, neighbors, and political associates. At each stop, we will talk about the person’s life and highlight their interactions with the 16th president. Comfortable shoes and water recommended.
